Nate Smith (drummer)
Ira Nathaniel Smith, generally referred to as Nate Smith, is an American drummer, songwriter, producer, and three-time Grammy nominee.
Life and career
Smith was born in Chesapeake, Virginia, and started playing drums at age 11, initially influenced by rock and funk music. At 16, he developed an interest in jazz after listening to Album of the Year by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. Smith studied media art and design at James Madison University. While at James Madison, he performed at the Conference of the International Association for Jazz Education in Atlanta, where he met Betty Carter, who invited him to joint performances at the Blue Note in New York City. Smith went to graduate school at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he met Dave Holland and joined Holland's quintet in 2003. Smith appears on the albums Critical Mass and Pathways. In 2017, he released his first album as leader, Kinfolk: Postcards from Everywhere on Ropeadope Records. In 2018 Smith cowrote and performed in the self-titled, debut EP release from the Vulfpeck spin-off group The Fearless Flyers, later going on a US tour with the group. The group has released four EPs and two albums. In early 2025, he released the collabarative cross-genre album "LIVE-ACTION"Smith has composed soundtracks for broadcast documentaries on Discovery Channel and The Learning Channel. He co-wrote and produced the Michael Jackson song "Heaven Can Wait".
Discography
As leader
Workday, Waterbaby Music Vol. 1 Kinfolk: Postcards from Everywhere Pocket Change Light and Shadow Kinfolk 2: See the Birds Pocket Change 2: Mad Currency- ''Live-Action''
As sideman
With Robin EubanksKlassik Rock Vol. 1 More Than Meets the EarWith Dave HollandCritical Mass Pathways
With Brittany HowardJaime What Now
With Jose JamesLove in a Time of Madness Lean on Me
With Chris PotterUnderground Follow the Red Line Ultrahang Imaginary Cities
With others
- Patricia Barber, The Cole Porter Mix
- Randy Brecker, Randy Pop!
- Scott Colley, Seven
- Nir Felder, Golden Age
- Takuya Kuroda, Rising Son
- Monday Michiru, Don't Disturb This Groove
- Eric Roberson, Fire
- Adam Rogers, Dice
- Karel Ruzicka, Grace & Gratitude
- Paul Simon, In the Blue Light
- Alex Sipiagin, Live at Smalls
- Somi, Petite Afrique
- The Fearless Flyers, The Fearless Flyers, The Fearless Flyers II, Tailwinds, The Fearless Flyers III, The Fearless Flyers IV, ''The Fearless Flyers V''